Miniature rose plant

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present described invention is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant characterized by small double flowers of a mixture of colors, being primarily shades of red and white in varying patterns or stripes and a plant similar to but more vigorous and with more stocky canes than Stars&#39;N Stripes.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy,dwarf, bush or shrub type rose plant of the miniature class: the varietybeing primarily characterized--as to novelty--by striped or variegatedflowers which in general color effect are similar to Stars'N Stripes(miniature--U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,029).

The variety is further characterized by:

An abundance of bloom, with flowers borne singly or several to the stemin loose clusters.

Light mossing on buds (sepals).

Little or no fragrance.

A plant which is vigorous, of rounded spreading shape with smallsemi-glossy to matt foliage with pointed leaflets; the buds and flowersbeing similar in form and size to Over The Rainbow (miniature--U.S.Plant Pat. No. 3,472).

The plant, which has a normal height of 12-16 inches or more, can easilybe maintained at lesser height by occasional trimming.

A plant which grows and blooms satisfactorily both in greenhouse andoutdoors; is good for growing in pots; and provides excellent gardendecoration as well as cut flowers.

The present variety of miniature rose was originated by me at my nurserylocated at Visalia, Calif., under conditions of careful control andobservation, as a cross between Little Darling, Floribunda (U.S. PlantPat. No. 1,581, expired) as the seed parent and un-named seedling #33(miniature--not patented) as the pollen parent.

Subsequent to origination of the variety I successfully asexuallyreproduced it, in my nursery located as aforesaid, by budding as well asby cuttings; the reproductions having run true in all respects.

The color photograph illustrates the variety, including the foliage,buds and flowers.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant, the following is a detailed description thereof in outline;all major color plate identifications being by reference to the BritishColour Council Horticultural Colour Chart, except where common terms ofcolor definition are employed.

Type: Hardy; dwarf; rounded spreading habit; seedling; greenhouse;outdoors; cut flowers; garden decoration; potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety name: Strawberry Swirl.

Flowers borne: Singly and several together (3 to 5) on slender wireystems.

Quantity of bloom: Abundant both outside and in greenhouse.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Medium length; slender but sturdy; erect; medium green,sometimes tinted bronze (outdoors); hairs -- many short hairs and softthorns. Before calyx breaks--size -- small. Form slender -- ovid:pointed with several small foliaceous appendages and several to fairlynumerous very short hairs (light mossing) on surface of bud; withfoliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of the bud equal to less thanone-half of its length. Color -- medium green, occasionally tinted withbronze (outdoors).

As calyx breaks.--Color -- usually red -- near Cardinal Red 822/2 butmay show some white areas or stripes. Opening: opens well in allweather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Small, averaging about 30-35 mm (13/8").

Petalage.--Double -- averaging about 50 petals, arranged regularly plussometimes several small petaloids.

Form.--Cupped at first, then becoming more rounded and high centered,with petals rolled loosely outward, and later at maturity full andrather rounded with outer petals often folded at edge to give a pointedeffect and rolled loosely outward and downward. Open flower full,rounded, sometimes may show stamens.

Petals: Fairly thick; satiny on inside and on outside surface.

Shape.--Outside petals, broad lanceolate (nearly round) with roundedtip; intermediate -- broad lanceolate with rounded tip; inside --lanceolate with short acute tip.

Color: Newly opened flower from a plant grown in plastic greenhouse(October 1978), Visalia, Calif.:

Outside petal.--Outside surface -- near Crimson 22/1 with both lighterand darker areas (plus occasional white or near white stripes) becomingnear white at base. Inside surface -- near Rose Madder 23/1 (with bothlighter and darker areas (plus occasional white or near white stripes)becoming near white at base.

Intermediate petal.--Outside surface -- near Crimson 22/2 (withoccasional stripes) becoming near white at base. Inside surface nearRose Madder 23/1 similar to outside petal.

Inner petal.--Outside surface similar to intermediate petal; insidesurface -- similar to intermediate petal. General color effect; newlyopened flowers -- red and white variegation of differing patterns anddiffering shades of color, depending upon maturity of flowers, time ofyear, intensity of sunlight and whether growing inside greenhouse oroutside.

Note: The red shades described above are from flowers grown in plastichouse in October, 1978. The flowers shown in color photo are lighter(more pink) and taken from same plants in same greenhouse in August,1978. Three days open -- color similar to newly opened flowers. Behavior-- opens well in all weather. Color darker red outdoors. Spent petalsdrop off. Flower longevity (June 1978) -- plant in pot 6-8 days orlonger. Cut flowers at living room temperature 5-7 days.

Reproductive Organs:

Stamens.--Few or none, if present, arranged irregularly about pistils.

Filaments.--Varying length, short, near white.

Anthers.--May be well formed or malformed; pinkish.

Pollen.--Little or none.

Pistils.--Few; often malformed.

Styles.--Varying length; bunched; color -- greenish.

Ovaries.--All enclosed in calyx.

Hips.--Few -- usually none.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear shaped; recurved.

Seed.--Few -- usually none.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Compound of five (sometimes three or seven) leaflets; small;leathery; semi-glossy to matt.

Leaflets.--Shape: broad, nearly oval (egg shape); apex acute; baserounded or rounded acute. Margin serrate. Color: medium green; newgrowth -- reddish. Rachis: medium strength; upper side may have severalto many tiny short prickles or hairs, grooved; underside; several thornswith several to numerous tiny prickles and thorns. Stipules: mediumlong; medium width; short to medium narrow points which turn out at moreor less than 45°.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf; bushy; spreading; much branched.

Growth.--Free vigorous; internodes short.

Canes.--Medium; slender; sturdy.

Main stems.--Color: medium green.

Thorns.--Many of varying length and size; slender; usually straight butinclined slightly downward; color; brown. Prickles -- some. Hairs: maybe some.

Branches.--Color: Medium green. Thorns: numerous; varying length andsize; slender; nearly straight, but inclined slightly downward. Mediumto short oval base. Prickles: some. Hairs: may be some.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climatic, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown at Visalia, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant of hardy, compact, spreading much branched habit,substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by buds andflowers which are (A) variegated or striped in varying shades of red andwhite, the bud and flower resembling Stars'N Stripes miniature (PlantPat. No. 4,029) in size and shape but with more petals; and (B) furthercharacterized by a plant which is vigorous, of compact spreading habit,easy to propagate from cuttings or by budding, with an abundance ofsmall size semiglossy to matt foliage and an abundance of flowers bornesingly or several to the stem in loose clusters.